Biggles and Chums
First World War watercolours and works on paper by Captain W.E. Johns and his contemporaries
Exhibition dates: Open now – 4th January 2015
Location: RAF Museum London
Admission: FREE
The Flying Services – Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service – played a very significant part in the Great War.
For the first time the fighting extended into the air above the battlefield, and this space became vital for reconnaissance of the enemy’s positions and intentions.
At sea, aeroplanes and airships were able to see far over the horizon visible from a warship, as well as spotting for submarine raiders around Great Britain’s coasts. Both sides tried to stop each other taking advantage of this over-view, and hence aerial fighting developed.
The Museum’s art exhibition will feature works on paper never exhibited before, all of them produced during or immediately after the First World War.
Aeroplanes, heroic actions, the new operational procedures of air warfare and portraits of the young men who flew, will be on display alongside parts of Richthofen’s Fokker Triplane and memorials to heroic airmen.
Andrew Cormack, the Keeper of Fine Art said ” … the exhibition has provided an opportunity to show some wonderful paintings, drawings, prints and watercolours which show the aeroplanes and the personnel of the Air Services at work, as well as some remarkable sculpture, all of it from the Museum’s own collection …”
Biggles and Chums is supported by BAE Systems and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Tags: 2014, June, News, RAF Museum London